The Three Secrets

Shingon teaches that you can, "attain enlightenment in this very existence," by bringing the actions of your Body, Speech, and Mind in conformance with your true, enlightened nature. This is called Three Secrets Practice. Kobo Daishi explained that if you make mudras (hand gestures that symbolize enlightenment), recite mantras (phrases that embody aspects of enlightenment), and practice meditation, the true nature of the mind will quickly be realized. This realization of the mind's true nature is enlightenment.

Body

In early Buddhist thought, the ultimate nature of reality was seen as separate from the everyday world. In Shingon, this is regarded as an error, an example of dualistic thinking. In one of his most influential works, The Secret Key to the Heart Sutra, Kobo Daishi said of enlightenment, "It is not apart from things as they are. Throwing away the body, who can seek it?" (translation by Yamazaki, p. 108)

The Mahavairocana Sutra says, "All things, just as they are, dwell in Truth." Since the body, this very body that you inhabit, is not different from Ultimate Truth, it follows that the use of the body in meditation can help you realize your true enlightened nature. When you sit in meditation in the posture of the Buddha, you are practicing the secret activity of the Buddha and thus opening your mind to an understanding of its true nature. Hand gestures called mudras are part of the physical aspect of meditation for Buddhist practicioners. These mudras are part of the way your body can identify with reality in a way that goes beyond words.

Speech

Just as you can have your body identify with the true nature of reality by adopting correct postures and hand gestures, your voice can echo the same truth by correctly reciting mudras and dharani, sacred phrases that express the true nature of your mind.

Mind

In meditation, you visualisze Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and other images, sounds, and colors and allow yourself to realize the true nature of your mind. Since these vistualizations bring your mind into conformance with the true nature of reality, you realize your mind's true nature and thus achieve Enlightenment.